All News

October 15, 2007

NATCA Claims Spores Responsible For Health Problems

Findings of significant mold concentrations in the busy Atlanta
Air Route Traffic Control Center in Hampton, GA have resulted in a
work stoppage by a contractor hired to perform unrelated work on
the facility's ventilation system.

Flying Prototype Passes Early Test

Oh dear... don't let Linn Murphy hear about this.
The US Department of Defense is reportedly considering an unmanned
aerial vehicle that could cause a spike in reports of "flying
saucers" the world over... because it IS a flying saucer.

Three Taken To Hospital; Reports Say Driver Was Backing Up
Across Runway

A twisted plane, a bent Lincoln Continental and three people
hospitalized. That is the aftermath of a Saturday ground collision
involving a noteworthy RV-8 and a car on the runway of a Boerne, TX
airpark.

Will Swap Out Older Turboprops, CRJ-200s

Regional carrier SkyWest and United Airlines announced Monday
SkyWest plans to acquire 22 new regional jet aircraft, 18 of which
will fly for United Express, as part of an aircraft transition
plan... allowing United Express to retire 23 EMB-120
Brasilia 30-seat turboprops (shown at bottom) and make room
for 66-seat regional jet aircraft.

A Critical Conference During A Critical Time

The 52nd annual Air Traffic Control Association Conference and
Exposition will be held October 28-31 in Washington, DC. Event
organizers tell ANN ATCA plans to take an in-depth look at policy
and strategy in ATC.

'Pilots Not Reporting Aircraft Defects When They Happen, But
When It Is Convenient'

At the recently concluded Aircraft Engineers International (AEI)
35th Annual Congress in London, a consensus seems to have been
reached (after "heavy debate") calling for 'a resolution to step up
the campaign for better policing of aircraft maintenance carried
out in the European Union.'

Dowling College informs ANN that they now offer the nation's
only MBA in Aviation Management with an option to take an
additional four undergraduate aviation courses. This MBA enables
students with a non-aviation undergraduate degree to sit for the
FAA Air Traffic Control Exam.

OK... its not a lot to go on, but we do have a long talk
scheduled with Alan Klapmeier tomorrow in which we hope to get some
more answers about a possible Cirrus Design bid for the assets of
bankrupt Columbia Aircraft.

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Klyde Teaches Us All Another Lesson

Seventeen Endangered Whooping Cranes Take to the Sky on
Ultralight-Guided Flight to Florida

Seventeen young whooping cranes began their ultralight-led
migration, Saturday morning, from central Wisconsin's Necedah
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This is the seventh group of birds
to take part in a landmark project led by the Whooping Crane
Eastern Partnership (WCEP), an international coalition of public
and private groups that is reintroducing this highly imperiled
species in eastern North America, part of its historic range. There
are now 52 whooping cranes in the wild in eastern North America
thanks to WCEP's efforts.

Radio-Control Model Leads To Sightings

A radio control model airplane hobbyist has a strange sense of
humor that has people looking to the skies over Southern
California. Hoaxmaster Linn Murphy has reportedly fooled thousands.
But now, it appears, the jig is up, according to the Orange County
Register.

"WCEP asks anyone who encounters a whooping crane in
the wild to please give them the respect and distance they need. Do
not approach birds on foot within 200 yards; try to remain in your
vehicle; and do not approach in a vehicle within 100 yards. Also,
please remain concealed and do not speak loudly enough that the
birds can hear you. Finally, do not trespass on private property in
an attempt to view whooping cranes."

Source: Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership
(WCEP), an international coalition of public and private groups
that is reintroducing this highly imperiled species in eastern
North America, part of its historic range. There are now 52
whooping cranes in the wild in eastern North America thanks to
WCEP's efforts.